Methods and apparatus for enhanced coexistence algorithms in wireless systems

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for mitigating the effects of interference between multiple air interfaces located on an electronic device. In one embodiment, the air interfaces include a WLAN interface and PAN (e.g., Bluetooth) interface, and information such as Receiver Signal Strength Index (RSSI) as well as system noise level information are used in order to intelligently execute interference mitigation methodologies, including the selective application of modified frequency selection, variation of transmitter power, and/or change of operating mode (e.g., from multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) to single-in, single-out (SISO)) so as to reduce isolation requirements between the interfaces. These methods and apparatus are particularly well suited to use cases where the WLAN interface is operating with high data transmission rates. Business methods associated with the foregoing technology are also described.

1. A wireless device, comprising:
 a processing apparatus; 
 at least two differing wireless network interfaces that operate in at least a partially overlapping frequency band, at least one of the at least two differing wireless network interfaces operating according to a multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) protocol; and 
 a computer readable apparatus having a storage medium with at least one computer program stored thereon, the at least one computer program comprising a plurality of computer executable instructions that are configured to, when executed by the processing apparatus:
 determine whether the wireless device is in an environment in which a first threshold for a system noise floor is exceeded; 
 when the first threshold is exceeded, adjust a transmit power for at least one of the at least two differing wireless network interfaces; 
 determine whether the wireless device is in an environment in which a second threshold for the system noise floor is exceeded; and 
 when the second threshold is exceeded, turn off at least one channel associated with the at least one wireless network interface operating according to the MIMO protocol. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two differing wireless interfaces comprise a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interface and a Bluetooth interface, and the at least one computer program is further configured to:
 measure a received signal strength using at least one of the interfaces; 
 evaluate the measured signal strength using one or more criteria; and 
 based at least in part on the evaluation, implement a modified adaptive frequency management protocol. 
 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one computer program further comprises a plurality of computer executable instructions that when executed by the processing apparatus:
 utilize an adjusted channel map associated with an adaptive frequency hopping function of the Bluetooth interface. 
 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the adjusted channel map comprises an adjusted portion of selected frequencies of the map to maintain an increased frequency difference from a center frequency associated with the WLAN interface relative to that of the adaptive frequency hopping function without such adjustment. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one computer program further comprises a plurality of computer executable instructions that when executed by the processing apparatus:
 adjust the frequency utilization of at least one of the at least two differing wireless network interfaces. 
 
     
     
       6. A wireless device, comprising:
 a processing apparatus; 
 at least two differing wireless network interfaces that operate in at least a partially overlapping frequency band; and 
 a computer readable apparatus having a storage medium with at least one computer program stored thereon, the at least one computer program comprising a plurality of computer executable instructions that are configured to, when executed by the processing apparatus:
 determine whether one of the at least two wireless network interfaces has a receiver signal strength index (RSSI) that exceeds a first criterion; 
 when the first criterion is exceeded, read a first frequency utilization map for the one of the at least two wireless network interfaces, otherwise read a second frequency utilization map for the one of the at least two wireless network interfaces; 
 determine whether the wireless device is in an environment in which a first threshold for a system noise floor is exceeded; 
 when the first threshold is exceeded, adjust a transmit power for at least one of the at least two differing wireless network interfaces; 
 when the transmit power is adjusted, determine whether the wireless device is in an environment in which a second threshold for the system noise floor is exceeded; and 
 when the second threshold is exceeded, modify the operation of the at least one of the at least two differing wireless network interfaces. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the modified operation comprises turning off at least one channel associated with the at least one wireless network interface operating according to a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) protocol. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the modified operation comprises further adjusting the transmit power for the at least one of the at least two differing wireless network interfaces. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the modified operation comprises a modified adaptive frequency management protocol. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the at least two differing wireless network interfaces comprise a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interface and a Personal Area Network (PAN) interface. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the modified operation comprises an adjustment to frequency utilization of at least a first one of the two differing wireless network interfaces. 
     
     
       12. A method for reducing interference in a wireless coexistence system, the wireless coexistence system including at least two differing wireless network interfaces that operate in at least a partially overlapping frequency band, the method comprising:
 determining a receiver signal strength index (RSSI) at the wireless coexistence system; 
 determining a noise floor associated with the wireless coexistences system; and 
 implementing a coexistence algorithm to reduce interference in the wireless coexistence system based at least in part on the determined RSSI and determined noise floor; 
 wherein the at least two wireless interfaces comprise a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interface and a Bluetooth interface, and the act of implementing a coexistence algorithm comprises adjusting a channel map associated with an adaptive frequency hopping function of the Bluetooth interface. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the adjusting of the channel map comprises adjusting the selected frequencies of the map to maintain an increased frequency difference from a frequency associated with the WLAN interface relative to that of the adaptive frequency hopping function without such adjustment. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the implementing the coexistence algorithm further comprises adjusting a frequency utilization of at least one of the at least two differing wireless network interfaces. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the implementing the coexistence algorithm further comprises adjusting a transmitter power of a transmitting one of the at least two wireless network interfaces. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the coexistence algorithm further comprises imposing a data rate mask or limitation on a transmitting one of the at least two wireless network interfaces. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the implementing the coexistence algorithm further comprises adjusting a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) protocol of the WLAN interface. 
     
     
       18. A method of operating a device having first and second air interfaces so as to mitigate interference therebetween without imposing time-sharing restrictions on either of the interfaces, the method comprising:
 determining a received signal strength using at least one of the interfaces; 
 determining a noise parameter using at least one of the interfaces; and 
 based at least on the acts of determining, selectively implementing a frequency use mapping for the first interface that substantially avoids one or more emitted sidebands associated with transmission from the second interface; 
 wherein the first interface comprises a Personal Area Network (PAN) interface, the second interface comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interface, and the frequency use mapping comprises a mapping which allows only certain prescribed channels. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:
 after the selectively implementing, determining again the noise parameter; 
 evaluating the again determined noise parameter; and 
 based at least in part on the evaluation, implementing at least one of: (i) transmitter power reduction on the WLAN interface; and/or (ii) changing the mode of operation of the WLAN interface from multiple-in, multiple-out (MIMO) to single-in, single-out (SISO). 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , where the frequency use mapping further comprises an adaptive frequency management protocol. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 18 , where the frequency use mapping further comprises adjusting a frequency utilization of at least one of the first and second air interfaces.